Home Office welcomes business travellers with new premium visa services

Yesterday, the UK government announced further improvements to the visa system to help attract the brightest and best to work, do business and invest in the UK. The main thrust of the announcement is the launch of an invitation-only service for top Chinese business executives with bespoke support from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

The Home Secretary, Theresa May said:

“I created UK Visas and Immigration in March to provide a focus on delivering excellent customer service. These changes will allow us to maintain a world-class, competitive visa system that can innovate in order to serve the ever-changing needs of business and ensure Britain succeeds in the global race.”

“We will continue to listen and respond to the needs of high-value and high-priority businesses so that we can provide them with a service that supports economic growth, while at the same time maintains the security of our borders.”

The announcement is a step towards an immigration system that works in the national interest including the launch of the GREAT Club, an invitation only service providing top business executives with bespoke support from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

The UKCVA welcomes this announcement – the new policy recognises that the UK is competing with other European countries for business from China and other growing economies and we need to be as welcoming as possible to those who will bring trade and investment. Simply making it easier to visit increases the attractiveness of the UK as a business partner so we would expect, over time, that this support for very senior business decisions makers will lead to stronger and deeper links between our two countries.

Further details of the announcement are below.

Extracted from the UK Home Office statement, 7th November 2013:

The Club will start in the New Year as a 12 month pilot aimed at around 100 global business leaders who use the visa service and have strong links to the UK. They will be provided with an account manager to ensure their journey through the visa and immigration service is swift and smooth. The account manager will also be able to arrange visa services tailored to each individual’s needs at no extra cost during the pilot.

The government has already been working to build an immigration system that works in the national interest, creating growth, investment and jobs in the UK that will benefit hard-working people, while still deterring those who have no right to be here. Thanks to new commercial contracts our visa application centres will be able to provide business travellers with more premium services than ever before.

Over the next 12 months additional improvements will include:

Expanding our priority (three to five day) visa service from 67 countries to over 90 countries by spring 2014

Expanding our same-day visa service, currently available in India and soon to be available in China, to several further key locations by the end of 2014

Introducing a VIP mobile visa service to India and piloting our passport pass back service in southern India with a view to expanding countrywide if successful.